Force Membrane, Rebel Army Uprising!

Su Mu knew very well that even if he managed to steal the complete Silver Needle Pulse Sealing technique, it would only alleviate the Gu Poison. At best, it could only delay the onset of the poison, not eradicate it.

"Medical skills can't be mastered overnight..."

"The only hope for detoxification now lies with Pharmacist Lin. Pharmacist Lin must not be harmed!"

Su Mu's eyes flickered, and he thought to himself. Just as he was about to speak, hurried shouts suddenly came from the street outside the courtyard.

"Make way, hurry and make way!"

The urgent and dense sound of hooves interrupted their thoughts. The iron shoes striking the ground made the entire Dust Alley tremble non-stop.

Su Mu looked out of the courtyard and saw many soldiers in armor from the Qingyun Army riding past on horseback. They were heading towards the South City Gate.

"The Qingyun Army is on the move again... Something must have happened recently."

Ever since Su Mu settled in Qingyun City, this wasn't the first time he had seen soldiers from the Qingyun Army galloping through. According to Great Yan law, unless it was a war or other emergency, even official armies were not allowed to gallop through the county town.

After the Qingyun Army had passed, Su Mu collected his thoughts and asked, "Little Physician, can you tell me in general about Pharmacist Lin's situation?"

Over the past few days, the two had become somewhat familiar. The little physician then began to explain, "The medicinal herbs in Qingyun City and its surroundings are monopolized by the Hundred Pills Tower. Months ago, certain medicinal herbs in the city began to continuously increase in price. Nowadays, a thirty-year-old Blood Ginseng sells for nearly thirty taels, whereas before, good quality ones were within ten taels, more than triple the past price."

"So, my master went on a journey to collect medicinal herbs, planning to purchase a batch from the herb farmers or to pick some himself from the medicinal mountains. According to our agreement, my master should have returned a few days ago, but now there's no news."

As the little physician spoke, a look of worry couldn't be concealed on his face.

Hearing this, Su Mu roughly understood the situation. Several days had passed since the agreed-upon return time with no news. If it wasn't a delay on the road, it was highly likely that something had happened.

The first force that came to Su Mu's mind was: the Black Mountain Army.

"Pharmacist Lin is fortunate and will surely be safe. Does the little physician know where he went to collect herbs?"

"South. Master said there are many medicinal mountains to the south."

South, medicinal mountains?

Su Mu was taken aback. He remembered that Qingshui Town was a typical town for trading medicinal herbs, with many herb merchants coming and going.

"Master didn't say exactly where he was going to collect them, but he mentioned a small town's name. He said this town was on the way back to the county town, and its name was somewhat similar to Qingyun..." The little physician suddenly added, but his eyes blinked, clearly unable to recall the exact name.

A name somewhat similar to Qingyun City?

Qingyun City, Qingshui Town?

"Could it be Qingshui Town?"

Su Mu asked hesitantly. The little physician's eyes lit up with joy, and he replied, "Yes, it's Qingshui Town! Master said that area is a place where wild ginseng is produced, and there are many medicinal mountains around."

Hearing it was Qingshui Town, Su Mu's heart stirred. He remembered that the pharmacy apprentice from the town's pharmacy had once tried to sell him wild ginseng. Everything fit.

This time, he could also go back to the blacksmith shop to see the masters. The masters in the shop all loved to drink, so he could bring back some good wine from the city. As for Xiao Hu, he could bring back some pastries.

"Young man, could I trouble you to go to the vicinity of Qingshui Town? I can pay you for your trouble." As he spoke, the little physician was about to get up to get money.

Su Mu shook his head. These past few days, the little physician hadn't charged him for treatment, saying it was for practice, but Su Mu knew he owed him a favor, especially since he had secretly learned some techniques.

This trip would repay that favor, and he himself needed to find Pharmacist Lin for treatment. With this connection, Pharmacist Lin would surely be more attentive when treating him.

"No need for money. My old home is in the town next to Qingshui Town, not far away. I was planning to go back in a few days anyway, so this is just on the way."

"You really don't want it?" The little physician blinked, looking somewhat incredulous.

"No, it's just on the way."

"Then thank you, young man. As long as I find my master, I will have him treat you first!" The little physician was overjoyed, his eyes curving into crescents as he smiled.

"Little Physician, could you describe Pharmacist Lin's appearance? And is there a token from the clinic if I happen to meet him?"

"I have a portrait of my master here. I'll get it for you right away."

Soon, the little physician took a painting from a bookshelf and unfolded it on the desk. Su Mu looked closely. The old man in the painting was tall and thin, with graying hair at the temples, exuding an air of a sage, which matched Su Mu's imagination of a renowned physician.

"As for the clinic's token..."

The little physician thought for a moment, then reached up and took a simple crane-shaped wooden hairpin from his hair. Su Mu accepted it without much thought.

"The sky is overcast today, and it's getting late. I plan to go back and pack my things and set off early tomorrow morning."

"Alright, then come to the clinic before you leave tomorrow. I'll see you off."

Watching Su Mu leave the clinic, the little physician suddenly remembered something. "Ah!" he exclaimed, a gasp escaping his lips. Two blushes suddenly appeared on his tender cheeks, his face feeling hot and flushed.

"That hairpin is just a token... just a token from the clinic."

After leaving the clinic, Su Mu recalled what the little physician had said. Coincidentally, the medicinal herbs he had brought from town had run out. Su Mu casually went to a pharmacy in the city to buy some ingredients for the Three-Complete Body Strengthening Soup.

"Sir, the total for your medicinal herbs is six taels of silver. I've already packed them for you."

"Okay."

As Su Mu left with the herbs, he frowned. He used to spend only three taels of silver for six portions of medicinal herbs, half a tael per portion, but here it cost six taels, doubling the price.

However, he couldn't go without the herbs. The price of the medicinal soup had already doubled, and the cost of the bone-strengthening paste would only be more expensive in the future.

"The Hundred Pills Tower, one of the five major powers. As expected, monopolies bring huge profits."

Sighing inwardly, Su Mu went to the market to buy some wine and pastries. Passing by a rice and flour shop, Su Mu paused briefly. He noticed many people queuing to buy rice and flour, looking at the prices on the wooden sign outside the shop.

The price of rice and flour in the shops had increased significantly compared to ten days ago. Originally, a dou of rice cost five wen, and good quality rice cost seven or eight wen. But today, even the cheapest was selling for seven or eight wen a dou.

Generally, a rapid increase in prices over a short period only occurred during natural disasters causing famine or during times of war. Recalling the frequent movements of the Qingyun Army he had seen these past few days, Su Mu believed the latter was more likely.

"Perhaps it's related to the Black Mountain Army... I hope I'm overthinking it."

When he rented the courtyard that day, he had bought a considerable amount of rice and flour, so he didn't need to buy food for now. Su Mu soon bought a few pots of good wine and a few boxes of pastries and returned home.

That night, Su Mu applied the last bit of White Jade Savage Bone Paste to his left arm, completely using up the box of ointment.

The next morning, Su Mu arrived outside the medical clinic. The young physician was already waiting, but today, the young physician gave Su Mu a strange feeling, different from usual.

The young physician escorted Su Mu all the way to the city gate. "Little brother, be careful on your journey. Take these few bottles of liniment with you."

Taking the liniment, Su Mu put on his bamboo hat, waved goodbye, and left Qingyun City.

As autumn approached, the intense heat gradually subsided, and the weather turned a few degrees cooler. However, with the arrival of autumn, the rainfall also increased.

Halfway to his destination, a light rain began to fall from the sky. The poison in Su Mu's body immediately flared up, causing his face to turn pale and his limbs to feel cold. Su Mu took a deep breath and activated the force within him.

Originally, his force could only circulate within his flesh and blood. But after mastering Hidden Force, Su Mu could already circulate his force to his skin and pores. He channeled the force to his body's surface, forming an invisible film.

The rain, blowing in the wind, naturally slid off this force film, unable to penetrate Su Mu's body. This significantly eased the excruciating pain caused by the poison's resurgence.

A force film, impervious to wind and rain!

"Just five or six li more and I'll reach the town."

It was at this moment that Su Mu quietly retracted the force film on his body. His ears twitched slightly, and he heard the sound of hooves hitting the ground carried by the wind.

Soon, the ground began to tremble.

Su Mu turned to look. In the direction of Qingyun City, a group of several dozen horsemen was galloping under the continuous autumn rain.

"These clothes... are they from the Qingyun Army?"

Seeing the attire of the cavalrymen, Su Mu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Soon, the dozens of Qingyun Army soldiers approached rapidly. They were all clad in armor, with sharp blades at their waists. The sound of their hooves merged into one, kicking up splashes of water as their horses' iron shoes pounded the rain-soaked official road.

These dozens of Qingyun Army soldiers were clearly on an urgent mission, their momentum formidable.

Su Mu immediately moved aside, retreating to the edge of the official road.

As the two groups passed each other, a Qingyun Army cavalryman at the front suddenly glanced at the young man by the roadside, dressed in a straw cape and bamboo hat, carrying several pots of wine.

"That young man just now was a bit... strange."

The autumn wind blew erratically, and in the incessant rain, even a straw cape couldn't completely prevent one from getting wet. Yet, the young man showed no signs of being significantly soaked.

However, the mission was urgent, and he didn't have the energy to pay attention to the young man he encountered by the roadside. He flicked his horsewhip, spurred his horse, and galloped away.

"Giddy up!"

"Speed up, everyone! Faster! They are in the small town ahead. That group of rebels has attacked several towns this month. We cannot let them escape this time."

As the figures receded into the distance, the conversation of the cavalrymen reached the young man's ears.

Rebels were attacking towns, and now, in the small town just ahead, the young man's eyes widened, his pupils constricting.

"Ahead... is Qingshui Town!"